Viewing page 81 of 243

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

P.S. - Confidential - Mr. Silvey of whom you have been written is an excellent old man - and seeing no other so good I cordially pressed his employment for duty as Asst. Supt. of Alex'a, Va. - 

I have just spent three days in Alex'a looking more closely into the work there. I find one Chaplain Jas. I. Ferrer on duty there under the Post Commander as "Supt. of Contrabands" who has been on duty as such for months and tho he has kept so quiet I never heard of him because he has been hard at work all the time and has things in most excellent order now. He "knows all the ropes" - all the colored people know him and they ask me to have him retained. he is paid by the War Dept. as a Hospital Chaplain - if we employed Mr. Silvey he would have to be paid from Freedmen's Funds.

Therefore I respectfully suggest that you drop a line to Mr. Wm. Silvey, Alex'a, Va., saying that as a detailed office can be obtained for duty in Alex'a. you do not feel justified in consideration of the present state of finances of the Bureau - in employing a civilian.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-23 10:40:37